Чужак в чужой стране

           "Well,whatdoesthatprove?Youtaughtmethetrueanswer,Mike.‘ThouartGod.’"

           "AndThouartGod,mylovely.Iwasn’tdisputingthat?butthatoneprimefactwhichdoesn’tdependatallonfaithmaymeanthatallfaithsaretrue."

           "Well?ifthey’realltrue,thenrightnowIwanttoworshipSiva."Jillchangedthesubjectwithemphaticdirectaction.

           "Littlepagan,"hesaidsoftly."They’llrunyououtofSanFrancisco."

           "Butwe’regoingtoLosAngeles?whereitwon’tbenoticed.Oh!ThouartSiva!"

           "Dance,Kali,dance!"

           Sometimeduringthenightshewokeandsawhimstandingatthewindow,lookingoutoverthecity.("Trouble,mybrother?")

           Heturnedandspoke."There’snoneedforthemtobesounhappy."

           "Darling,darling!IthinkIhadbettertakeyouhome.Thecityisnotgoodforyou."

           "ButIwouldstillknowit.Painandsicknessandhungerandfighting–there’snoneedforanyofit.It’sasfoolishasthoselittlemonkeys."

           "Yes,darling.Butit’snotyourfault-"

           "Ah,butitis!"

           "Well?thatway–yes.Butit’snotjustthisonecity;it’sfivebillionpeopleandmore.Youcan’thelpfivebillionpeople."

           "Iwonder."

           Hecameoverandsatdownbyher."Igrokwiththemnow,Icantalktothem.Jill,Icouldsetupouractagain?andmakethemarkslaugheveryminute.Iamcertain."

           "Thenwhynotdoit?Pattywouldcertainlybepleased?andsowouldI.Ilikedbeing‘withit’–andnowthatwe’vesharedwaterwithPatty,itwouldbelikebeinghome"